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Capital Bond Improvement Projects

Newport Way

Project Details

The renovated and expanded Newport Way Library reopened in April 2011.

The $3.4 million project expanded the library to 8,690 square feet. This project also included more materials, computers, wireless access, and space for children and teens as well as an Automated Materials Handling system to speed delivery.

Renovated Newport Way Library Reopens!

The entrance to the Newport Way Library may have been relocated, but that didn’t stop residents from finding their way inside the newly renovated facility. More than 350 people gathered on the morning of Saturday, April 30, to celebrate the reopening of the Newport Way Library.

As community members took seats for the celebration, the music group The Toy Boats entertained the crowd, playing songs on miniature instruments. KCLS Director Bill Ptacek then welcomed everyone to the celebration and several local dignitaries addressed the crowd.

KCLS Board Member Rob Spitzer stressed the importance of the library to the community and thanked everyone present for their support of the bond measure.

“This was made possible through the foresight of the voters,” Spitzer said.

The $2.5 million project renovated and expanded the Newport Way Library to 8,690 square feet, thanks to the $172 million capital bond approved by voters to fund major upkeep and expansion of KCLS libraries.

Jane Hague, King County Councilmember, said the Newport Way Library is her home library.

“We are here to celebrate the fact that libraries are an important part of our community.” Hague said. “This is a lovely rethinking of a library.”

Representing the project architects, Ruth Coates highlighted the features of the renovated building, which was originally constructed in the 1970s.

“This was an important building to save,” Coates said. “There are a lot of new changes throughout, thanks to your support.”

Some of the more visible enhancements are additional seating throughout the inside of the library, including a reading porch and children’s window seat, an expanded meeting room that opens up to the central area when not in use, and new furniture, carpeting, shelving and renovated restrooms. A new roof, paving and landscaping complete the exterior enhancements.

Once the doors officially opened, people were invited inside to tour the library and enjoy refreshments provided by the Newport Way Library Association with support from local businesses. Giveaways included coloring books, bookmarks and seeded paper to grow wildflowers.

Monthly Updates+-

2011

May 2011The renovated and expanded Newport Way Library opened on Saturday, April 30, to a crowd of more than 300 people. During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, a number of dignitaries addressed the crowd, including KCLS Board Member Rob Spitzer and King County Councilmember Jane Hague. Once the doors officially opened, attendees toured the library and enjoyed music by The Toy Boats. Refreshments were sponsored by the Newport Way Library Association with support from local businesses.

April 2011The renovated and expanded library is now completed and will open to the community on Saturday, April 30, 9:30am. After a ribbon-cutting ceremony, residents are invited to tour the building and enjoy refreshments and music by The Toy Boats.

March 2011Construction is nearing completion and furniture and equipment installation is currently underway. Collection materials have been delivered to the site and library staff are setting-up the interior of the building in preparation for reopening. The reopening event is planned for Saturday, April 30, 9:30am.

February 2011Construction continues on the renovated and expanded library. Once construction work is completed, staff will begin preparing the interior of the library to reopen to the public. A ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house will be held on Saturday, April 30, 9:30am.

January 2011Construction continues on the expanded and renovated library, with a number of projects underway such as brick repair, painting, gas piping and sidewalks. Once construction work is completed, staff will begin preparing the interior of the library. The library will reopen to the public with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house on Saturday, April 30, 9:30am.

2010

December 2010Construction work continues on the expanded and renovated Library. Structural work is in progress and brick work began in early December. Once construction work is completed, Library staff will begin preparing the interior of the building for the reopening.

November 2010Construction continues on the expanded and renovated Library. The project schedule has been extended six weeks due to the discovery of faulty duct work that needs to be replaced around the perimeter of the building. Once construction work is completed, Library staff will begin preparing the interior of the Library for the reopening celebration.

October 2010Construction on the expanded and renovated library continues and a temporary location for holds pick-up is open in the Factoria Mall. The Library is anticipated to reopen in early 2011.

September 2010Construction on the expanded and renovated facility continues and a temporary location for holds pick-up is open in the Factoria Mall. The Library is anticipated to reopen in early 2011.

August 2010
Construction continues on the expanded and renovated library and the project schedule has been extended six weeks due to the discovery of faulty duct work around the perimeter of the building that must be replaced. During construction, a temporary location for holds pick up is available at Factoria Mall.

July 2010Construction continues on the remodeled and expanded Newport Way Library. During construction, a temporary location is available at Factoria Mall and Sunday hours have been added at nearby Lake Hills Library from 1-5pm.

May 2010In mid-May, contractors started construction work to remodel and expand the Newport Way Library. The Library is anticipated to be closed for 8-12 months while renovation work is completed. During construction, a temporary location at Factoria Mall is open and Sunday hours from 1-5pm have been added at nearby Lake Hills Library.

April 2010The construction contract has been finalized with the project contractor, Kirtley Cole Associates, and construction is anticipated to begin in May 2010. The Newport Way Library will be temporarily closed beginning May 3 and temporary library services will be available at Factoria Mall starting May 5.

March 2010Bidding for the library construction project opened on March 16 and seven contractors submitted construction bids. The low bid was submitted by Kirtley Cole Associates LLC. Construction work is anticipated to start in May 2010, during which time temporary library services will be available at Factoria Mall.

February 2010
The bidding process is currently underway for the Newport Way Library expansion project. Construction work is anticipated to start in May 2010. During construction, services will be available at a temporary site at Factoria Mall.

January 2010The architects and engineers submitted for King County Department of Development and Environmental Services (DDES) permit review in July 2009. The determination of non-significance from the State Environmental Program Act was issued in November 2009. The project is now being reviewed by the technical staff in each DDES department. The current schedule calls for bidding to occur in February-March and construction to start by May 2010. KCLS has secured a temporary location for holds pickup, materials returns and limited computer access at Factoria Mall.

2009

December 2009The determination of non-significance from the State Environmental Program Act was issued in November. The King County Department of Development and Environment Services (DDES) staff recently informed KCLS that the project is now being reviewed by the technical staff in each department. The current schedule calls for bidding to occur in January or February 2010 and for construction to start by March or April 2010.

November 2009Permit review of the project by the King County Department of Development and Environment Services (DDES) was submitted for in July 2009 and KCLS was recently informed that the project is now being reviewed by the technical reviewers in each department. The current schedule calls for bidding in January or February 2010 and for construction to begin in March or April 2010.

October 2009
Final design work has been authorized, including the interior details and a bid package. The current schedule calls for bidding in January 2010 and construction to start by March 2010.

September 2009The project architects and engineers submitted for King County Department of Development and Environmental Services permit review in July 2009. The current schedule anticipates bidding in January 2010 and the start of construction by March 2010.

August 2009The architects and engineers submitted for King County Department of Development and Environmental Services permit review in July 2009. Final design work has been authorized, including the interior details and a bid package. The current schedule anticipates bidding in January 2010 and the start of construction by March 2010.

July 2009The architects are preparing the permit submittal package for King County review. Final design work will be completed following the receipt of comments from the Department of Development and Environmental Services staff. The current schedule anticipates bidding in January 2010 and construction to start by March 2010.

June 2009The consultant team is working to prepare the permit set of drawings for the County Department of Development and Environmental Services to review. KCLS anticipates that construction will be under way in 2010.

May 2009Plans continue to take shape for remodeling the Newport Way Library. The current schedule calls for a building permit to be issued by January 2010.

April 2009Plans continue to take shape for the upcoming library remodel project. Designs for the relocation of the entry, accommodation of the automated check-in system, expansion of the meeting room and other improvements were recently discussed at a public meeting. The current schedule calls for a building permit to be issued by January 2010.

March 2009There was a standing-room-only crowd at the public meeting about the renovation of the Newport Way Library. Preliminary designs for the 800 square foot expansion project include a new entrance that will be more accessible and prominent from the parking lot, allowing the restrooms and meeting room to be expanded. The reading area also will be slightly expanded and an Automated Materials Handling system installed in the workroom. The expansion work is within the project budget and, most importantly to the public, preserves the intent of the original design.

February 2009Work has begun to develop interior and exterior designs for the expanded and remodeled Newport Way Library. Architects with Miller-Hull Partnership have studied the alternatives to determine what work can be completed with the capital funds available for the project. A public meeting has been scheduled to discuss the project and present two preliminary designs to the community on March 17, 2009 at 6:30pm at the Newport Way Library.

2008

February 2008
More than 30 people attended a community meeting in Newport Way to discuss a
possible change in plans for the Library project. Miller Hull architects presented
their findings regarding the library expansion and estimated that it would
cost $4 million for a 2,000-square-foot expansion. This is considerably higher
than the $1.3 million identified for the project at the time of the bond measure.
Meeting attendees provided input and suggestions for modifications to the Library
if an expansion is not feasible, which included enlarging the meeting room
and the staff areas. The architects also will look into the possibility of
a balcony or mezzanine within the current space. KCLS staff indicated that
as we progress through the capital improvement plan projects, there may be
more funding available in the future if other projects are completed under
budget. In the meantime, KCLS will continue to work with community members
to explore options for reconfiguring the current space.